Biography

American country singer and writer, who taught himself music, has won a large collection of country music awards, and several gold and triple platinum records.

Fourth child and son of Anna and G.A. Black, he taught himself to play the harmonica when he was 13. He dropped out of high school to play bass in his brother’s band in 1978, and within three years, had his own solo gigs. He had a booking in Houston in 1981 and went eight years playing on the local club circuit.

Black hooked up with guitarist Hayden Nicholas and the two wrote some of the tunes that would eventually bring them fame. In 1989-1990, his career as a country singer took off. His first album went Triple Platinum and successive releases also became million-sellers. By the end of 1990, he was on his own concert tour, collecting many awards and honors. In 1991, he joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry.

In early 1992, he was engaged in lawsuits with an ex-manager, which delayed the release of some of his work and stalled his progress. He issued "We Tell Ourselves" as his "comeback single" in June 1992. He was named Most-Played Country Radio Artist of 1994 by Billboard magazine, and began his acting debut in TV’s "Wings" and the movie "Maverick."

He has had Gold Records for "Put Yourself in My Shoes," 1991; "The Hard Way," 1992; and "Nothin’ But the Taillights," 1997.

He married former "Knots Landing" star Lisa Hartman on 10/20/1991 on his farm outside Houston, Texas. They had met 1/01/1991 when Lisa attended a New Year’s Eve performance of Clint’s in Houston. In 1995 he acknowledged his paternity of a five-year old girl, the daughter of Renee Lynn Bain, and set up a fund to pay her support. After nine years of marriage, Clint and Lisa had their first child on Tuesday night, 5/08/2001, a girl they named Lily Pearl Black. Lily's arrival was announced Wednesday at the Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast along with their award of the vocal event of the year trophy on for their duet "When I Said I Do."